Abstract: An omnidirectional lightning ranging, identification and protection system having circuits that produce no false alarms or failures to alarm, responsive to cloud to ground and cloud discharges, capable of differentiating between cloud to ground and cloud discharges insensitive to background noise, autonomous with respect to power and communications conductors for operating reliably in the presence of nearby lightning discharges, requiring no field calibration, that provides local and remote lightning rate and range data, and that provides mechanisms for automatically signalling and disconnecting electrical equipment for the purpose of lightning protection. The system has circuits that are responsive to the electric field changes produced by lightning discharges in the frequency range between 2 khz and about 200 khz and to time coincident optical radiation in the 6000 to 9000 angstroms wavelength range.

Abstract: A synchronization system and method for a lightning location system having a plurality of remote lightning detectors transmitting data to a lightning position analyzer via a communication system having variable transmission delays. Each lightning detector includes a clock for identifying the time of occurrence of a lightning event such as cloud to ground lightning discharge, the time of occurrence data being transmitted to the position analyzer along with other data representing the lightning event. The position analyzer also includes a clock for identifying the time of arrival at the analyzer of data representing a lightning event. Lightning events are correlated by the position analyzer by comparing the time intervals between the occurrence of lightning events detected by one detector and the time intervals between the occurrence of lightning events detected by a second detector.

Abstract: The thunderstorm sensor of the present invention includes a pair of orthogonally positioned magnetic loop antennas to provide signals representative of the north-south and east-west components of the magnetic field produced by a lightning discharge. The system also includes an omni-directional electric field antenna to provide a signal representative of the electric field produced by a lightning discharge. The magnetic field and electric field signals from the antennas are coupled to an analog signal processor and digitizer which provides digital representations of the peak north-south and peak east-west components of the radiated magnetic field. The analog signal processor and digitizer also provides digital representations of the peak radiated electric field and the electric field sampled at a time subsequent to the time of occurrence of the peak radiated field wherein the second sampled electric field value represents the electrostatic field change due to the lightning discharge.

Abstract: A lightning activated relay utilizes an electric or magnetic field responsive detector for determining the presence of atmospheric conditions potentially capable of producing lightning or for detecting the occurrence of lightning within a predetermined range. Switching circuitry responsive to the detector is provided for isolating electrical equipment from the electric power mains and isolating or grounding communications or other equipment susceptible to lightning damage when such conditions are detected or upon the occurrence of a temporary power interruption.

Abstract: A lightning detection system utilizes a plurality of remotely located lightning detectors that provide information defining the azimuth of a lightning discharge to ground as well as information defining the strength of the electric and/or magnetic field produced by the lightning discharge to a central office. The central office includes a position analyzer for processing the data to determine the position of the discharge. The position analyzer utilizes either the received angle information and triangulation techniques, or the relative amplitudes of the fields to determine position, depending on whether or not the discharge occurs along or near a line joining two of the remotely located detectors.